Charlotte Harbor Outfitters September '07

September 2007 Fishing Report

With snook season opening, a wide array of anglers will be in search on that perfect slot limit fish. The new regulations to keep a snook are 28-33 inches. For those anglers that just enjoy catching the fish and releasing to swim again another day, take extra care in hook removal and revival of the fish. Snook are showing up all over the harbor. Big snook catches are coming from mangrove islands with deeper water, local canal docks, and beaches. These snook will readily eat live baitfish on a strong moving tide but will also start to eat artificial lures with regularity. An early morning top water bite is hard to beat. Redfish schools are still on the rise. Approach the schools with as much stealth as possible. Live or cut bait will do the trick when presented ahead of the school, but artificial lures will work just as good. On lower stages of the tide in Pine Island and Matlacha, the wide open flats with mixed sandy bottom and grass is where these fish will lurk. A soft finessed plastic bait or early morning top water lure will trigger a strike. Most fish will be over the slot with some measuring within. Trout are making a showing as well. The east and west wall flats are providing decent numbers of small trout. A few catches over 20 inch plus fish have been made and these fish will eat live shrimp under popping corks or top water plugs. Big jacks are hanging around the flats as well as local canal basins and mouths. Tarpon are everywhere, the beaches, passes, flats, harbor, and canals. Best bet is to fish them first thing in the morning or late in the day. Live baitfish will be best but hard suspending baits and soft plastic jerk baits will do the trick.Baitfish are around and can be caught. Most anglers can chum them to the boat on local flats in 3-4 feet of water. Most of the whitebait is on the smaller side with some schools pushing 4-6 inches, it can be hit or miss. Pinfish are in full force though and not too many redfish or snook will turn their head to a pinfish. For a long day of fishing with live bait, most anglers will want to pack their livewell full of these little swimmers. Look in the rest of the month for the snook bite to get better. Temperatures will start to cool a bit and the fishing will turn on. Bait also has a good possibility of getting thicker and bigger. Big tarpon will soon be in the upper reaches of the habor. Tight Lines from the CHO Guides

Charlotte Harbor Outfitters
Captain Tim White
941-916-4009
tqwhite@hotmail.com
Captain Chuck Jenks
239-825-8791
chuckjenks@hotmail.com
Captain Jason Dill
941-628-2847
jdill30@hotmail.com